Provided that you have an airplane large enough for this capacity, suppose that you have a 1000 lb load of canaries. You take off and all of a sudden all the canaries start flying within their cages. Supposing that the cabin is pressurized, does the airplane now weigh less because the canaries are no longer on their perch? Or does the airplane weigh the same?
After being asked this question, I thought it through with the knowledge that I possess of physics and this is what I came up with.
I took Newton's third law to base my conclusion. Therefore the air that is giving them lift is compressed in small waves and then dissipates over distance. In relation to the surfaces within the aircraft, the pressures are distributed when compressed. Since it is a closed system no mass or energy is lost. It is a bastardized explanation to something that can be taken to many levels of calculation, but is my assumption correct? Or would it be more eluding?
2007-11-21 13:50:59 · 3 answers · asked by Damian 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
a flying object is supported by the air underneath it, and that air is supported by the ground. the mass hasn't changed, nor has gravity, only the medium through which the forces are applied has.
2007-11-21 13:58:49 · answer #1 · answered by Jiberish 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the weight of the aeroplane includes the air inside it. The canaries are displacing some of the air with their bodies.
Whether they are in flight or perched they will displace the same amount of air.
So nothing changes.
Open the door and let them all out .... then there is reduction in payload of the aircraft!
2007-11-21 15:35:44 · answer #2 · answered by bluespeedbird 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, while the birds are airborne your airplane (or any other container) will weigh that much less.
2007-11-21 15:09:46 · answer #3 · answered by gunplumber_462 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋